I just got thinking randomly about tone, aside from using a quarter as a pick and all. It's funny how few people notice the bass tone very much unless you are right out front. Even then, about half the audience thinks it's another guitar and don't make the connection. I'm somewhat guilty of chasing tone, but perhaps not as much as others who have a specific sound in their minds. When it comes to guitar sounds, there's certain sounds I want to be able to get on demand. Same with cymbals, believe it or not. Bass is a little different. I built the P-Bird to get a very specific sound, which it completely nails, especially through a 360. The upright is supposed to sound like itself, and now that the ToneHammer is out of the signal chain, it sounds like it should through either the little combo or a 360. Other than that, it's been a matter of listening to the bass and seeing what it does and figuring out how to use that sound. Pedals are as much for amusement and exploration as for a specific sound. I didn't get along with compressors for bass very well. It's probably a heavy handed technique problem. Envelope followers are a blast, and I'm having a lot of fun with an octaver that produces both high and low octaves at whatever volume you decide you want. It's fun to see what those things do and let them show me where to take things, rather than the other way around. Playing with a pick and using different strings has some of the same exploratory effect. It's just flat fun to let it all happen, rather than be locked into an elusive idea.